PowerSchool Aptitude Test PowerSchool Aptitude Test: Verbal Reasoning 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The word INSIDIOUS most closely means:
- Obvious and direct
- Proceeding harmfully in a subtle way (Correct answer)
- Loudly disruptive
- Transparently dishonest
Correct answer: Proceeding harmfully in a subtle way
Insidious describes something that causes harm gradually and often goes unnoticed.
Question 2: Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
- She liked math; because it was logical.
- The report was due Monday; however, it was submitted late. (Correct answer)
- He ran; and jumped over the hurdle.
- They ordered supplies; pencils, paper, and folders.
Correct answer: The report was due Monday; however, it was submitted late.
A semicolon correctly joins two independent clauses, especially before conjunctive adverbs like 'however'.
Question 3: PARSIMONIOUS is to SPENDING as TACITURN is to:
- Listening
- Speaking (Correct answer)
- Reading
- Thinking
Correct answer: Speaking
Parsimonious means extremely unwilling to spend; taciturn means extremely unwilling to speak.
Question 4: Which word best fills the blank? 'The committee reached a _____ decision, with all members in agreement.'
- Contentious
- Unanimous (Correct answer)
- Provisional
- Ambivalent
Correct answer: Unanimous
Unanimous means every person involved shares the same opinion or decision.
Question 5: Identify the sentence that uses 'affect' and 'effect' correctly.
- The rain will effect attendance; the effect will be fewer students.
- The rain will affect attendance; the effect will be fewer students. (Correct answer)
- The rain will affect attendance; the affect will be fewer students.
- The rain will effect attendance; the affect will be fewer students.
Correct answer: The rain will affect attendance; the effect will be fewer students.
Affect is typically a verb (to influence) and effect is typically a noun (a result).
Question 6: AMELIORATE most nearly means:
- Worsen
- Ignore
- Improve (Correct answer)
- Maintain
Correct answer: Improve
Ameliorate means to make something bad or unsatisfactory better.
Question 7: Which option correctly identifies the logical flaw? 'All students who study hard pass. Maria passed. Therefore, Maria studied hard.'
- Ad hominem
- False dichotomy
- Affirming the consequent (Correct answer)
- Circular reasoning
Correct answer: Affirming the consequent
This is affirming the consequent — assuming that if P implies Q, then Q implies P, which is invalid.
PowerSchool Aptitude Test PowerSchool Aptitude Test: Verbal Reasoning 4
The word INSIDIOUS most closely means: